Celebrating The Life Of My Princess: A Love So Real, It Hurts
This morning as I sat with my daughter during our daily mother daughter devotional, I realized how quickly the years have gone by. My eyes welled up with tears and I could hardly breathe. A love so real, it hurts. Even though I have spent every moment of her precious life at home with her as her mother and teacher, it still didn’t make the world stop spinning nor time stop. I wish time would just stand still, just for a minute. But it won’t.
I learned while pregnant with our precious first born {Princess} through reading the Word of God that YOU CANNOT GET TIME BACK. Once a moment is gone, it is never to be seen again. Sure, we can attempt to preserve our memories through writing, oral stories, photos, and other mediums, but the reality is: a moment lived is a moment lost. It is with this knowledge that I strive to be the BEST mother and example of God’s love each and every day of my life. I let my baby girl laugh, cry, love, hurt, learn, pray, read, and enjoy whatever it is that brings her sweet spirit peace. And I sit still, in awe of God’s goodness manifesting through this beautiful creature only He could create – thankful for Him entrusting HER to ME.
Next week mama’s baby girl turns 11. How did this happen? That’s right, life happens. And I am grateful to be able to say that I live an intentional life with Christ at the center. And in this life of choosing God’s will over what I see or hear is “best” I actually RECEIVE GOD’S BEST. I receive and enjoy it everyday in the beautiful smiles of my children. I am blessed to have a brilliant, strong willed, sweet daughter who is willing to serve others. This, my friends, is worth more than the world can give.
Sweet love, real love, a love SO REAL, it hurts.
Upon reflection of my beautiful daughter’s life, as she lives it right before my very eyes, I cannot help but think of the Mother of Jesus. Mary knew that she would give birth to LOVE. And the reality of that LOVE would be so strong, God Himself manifested in the flesh, that it would also bring a pain so real it hurt. Mary knew that her precious Son would have to die for the sins of mankind, but she never stopped loving her son. She never for one moment stopped serving God, because the reality is: LOVE does not come without sacrifice. And there is NOTHING in this world that would EVER stop me from receiving the LOVE of God or giving that same LOVE away to His people.
Yes, love hurts, but more than that, the precious gift of LOVE is worth not only waiting for, but also giving your life for.
Real LOVE costs us all something. But NOTHING could ever replace the real fulfillment of life that is only found in LOVE.
The Bible sums it all up so sweetly is 1 Corinthians 13:4-7:
4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Today as you live your life, I encourage you to keep the precious gifts of love God has blessed you with in your life at the forefront of your perspective. I pray that each one of you will continue to cherish and develop the deep love that God has for you with your family and friends. It is my desire to see God’s family grow up into the body of Christ by unity of His Spirit IN LOVE. May you live each day intentionally – choosing LOVE as your deciding factor!
Carlie, this is so sweet and touching. My daughter will be turning 13 in less than 6 months and I vividly, achingly feel the winds of change underneath us. It is a love that hurts. A love with both joy and sorrow, pain and happiness, anticipation and sometimes dread. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings.
Heidi, it is such a sweet joy to raise our children. So grateful to have a friend like you to walk beside in this journey of life. Bless you and your sweet girls as you walk ahead in God’s pan for your lives!
Dear Daughter,
Such a beautiful story, thankyou for sharing your heart for your daughter my gorgeous wonderful Granddaughter Hannah. I am so filled up after reading this. Full of joy for you and the awesome God we serve. The next time we speak and hug will not be soon enough.
Love Dad
Awwww….thanks, Dad! We LOVE and miss you too!! Don’t you love the photos I took of her too?
They are the best, she looks so good, so photogenic. You really caught her at just the right moment. Looking forward to many more.
Carlie – I love this post! As you can guess from my HHM post this has been on the forefront of my mind for the last few weeks. POOF the time is gone.
What a precious girl she is. I really do want to meet you guys in person one day when you are stateside again.
Louanne, I can’t wait to meet you and your beautiful family IRL – it WILL happen 🙂 Thank you for reading – and yes, our hearts are knit together for our daughters by Christ!
Carlie, it is kind of a sad but sweet feeling to watch our children grow up, isn’t it? I sometimes get a little sad thinking about how things were when they were all little. Then I remind myself that it is God’s plan for them to grow up and leave the nest. I’m so grateful for the children that God gave me, and I try each day to enjoy the time I have with them here at home. Thanks for your post! We all need to be reminded now and then to love and enjoy our kiddos!
Amen, Wendy. Thankful to serve an all knowing God who is merciful enough to give us grace and wisdom for the journey!
That was beautiful!
Thank you, LaToya!
I try so hard to live in the moment and enjoy my kids. I was thinking last how wonderful it is to have 6, 3, and 1 year old kids…the magic is so alive! I know that time will fly, your post really reaffirmed this, thank you!
Angela,
I know what you mean. We have an almost 11-year-old, 5-year-old, and 3-year-old. NEVER a dull moment 🙂 It is my focus to make sure that I don’t take anything for granted as they are only in our care for a little while 🙂 Bless you!
I loved reading this post.
Thank you, Latoyna. I know you love your two beautiful girls and can relate 🙂 Bless you, friend!